Local Planning Support

POS Enterprises is a leading provider of support in local planning, through the critical friend service and supported learning groups.  It developed the "Soundness self-assessment toolkit" for PAS, together with guidance on selling the LDF corporately and to partners, and led the preparation of the "SHLAA practice guidance" for the DCLG.

Critical Friend Support

This service uses a "health check" to help authorities prepare good plans which will be found sound at examination, and has assisted over 60 authorities to date.  It concentrates on practical approaches to plan preparation, with a strong emphasis on getting the fundamentals right and setting a clear focus.  We can assist with both general local plan preparation and minerals and waste plans.

The early involvement of a critical friend ensures the authority is going in the right direction and that its approach to the work will be effective and economical of resources.  Alternatively a critical friend can be involved when a local plan is at an advanced stage, to provide a full assessment against the tests of soundness.  In either case an initial workshop with the authority's team is used to explore aspects of soundness, review the work to date and planned way forward, and pinpoint any areas needing attention.

The feedback from the support has been very positive, as these comments from clients show:-

• The workshop session and subsequent report provided invaluable advice to highlight risks and areas of weakness with our strategy
• Very efficient service, professional and on the button
• It is very much a case of the consultant working with us rather than talking at us!

Training for local plan examination

This training helps staff who will be involved in the examination to get into the right mind-set, and organise themselves to engage effectively with the examination process.  For details click here

Supported Learning Groups

We manage three supported learning groups which assist groups of authorities in sharing experience and exploring aspects of plan-making practice.  Two groups deal with general local planning matters, with one based in London and the other in Leeds,  The third specialises in minerals and waste planning.  Participants select the matters to be addressed by the groups in the light of their priorities and current interests.  All three groups are supported by expert project officers and have been continued from year to year at the request of the participants.

From time to time places come available on these groups, so enquiries about joining are always welcome

For more information please contact Andrew Wright (see below).

SHLAA Support

The NPPF confirms that the SHLAA is crucial evidence for local plans.  At very economical cost we can review a draft or completed SHLAA against the DCLG guidance (whose preparation POS Enterprises led), and provide a report advising on the robustness of the evidence base and giving clear recommendations on any action required to strengthen it.

Training

For details of current POS Enterprises training opportunities click here  

Publications

For a list of past and current publications click here 

For further information about local planning support, please contact Andrew Wright on 0845 6019 067 or at andrewwright@posenterprises.co.uk